Music-rack for upright keyed instruments.



PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

F. MULLER. MUSIC RACK FOR UPRIGHT KEYED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED OOT. 29.1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDRICH MULLER, OF MAGDE-BURG, GERMANY.

MUSIC-RACK FOR UPRIGHT KEYED INSTRUMENTS- Specification of ietters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed October 29, 1904. Serial No. 230,571.

T 0 all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH MULLER, director, a subject of the King of Prussia, German Emperor, residing at 56a Kaiserstrasse, Magdeburg, Germany, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Music-Racks for Upright Keyed Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The music-racks on which the music stands are in the case of upright keyedinstruments upright pianos, cabinet-organs, &c.-mostly attached to the cover which protects the keys of the instrument. Although this position of the music is entirely satisfactory for playing and appears suitable. it is nevertheless entirely disadvantageous in case the player desires to sing at the same time or if a singer stands behind him or at his side for the purpose of using the same music. In both cases the singer must incline the head, as well as, especially in the latter case, the body, whereby the throat and chest are compressed and a free emission of the voice is impossible. The

device which is hereinafter described and.

which is illustrated in the drawings serves to remove this drawback.

Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 a front View. of a piano provided with the device. Fig. 3 is a side view of the device alone. Fig. I is a front view of the device; Fig. 5, a view of the device shut up. Figs. 1 and 2, as opposed to Figs. 3 and 5, are on a considerably reduced scale.

The device consists, essentially, of a musicrack which is so constructed that it can be attached to the instrument without difliculty and so high that the singer does not need to bend over to see the music. With this object in view the side supports a of the music-rack in question are provided with hooks 7) at the upper end. By means of the hooks the music-rack is hung over the upper edge of the front side of the instrument after the upper lid has been raised. As the hooks can be made of very thin metal, the lid can be let down again very closely.

Metal plates 0, perforated for the reception of screws or other fastening devices, are secured to the rear sides of supports a, by which, if desired, the music-rack may be rigidly attached to the instrument. These plates are preferably covered with rubber, felt, or other suitable material (not shown) to prevent marring the instrument. The side supports a are wedge-shaped, so that the music supported on the holder (Z leans backward. The holder d is attached, by means of hinges, to a brace e, which is in turn pivotally attached to the side supports a by means of screws f, one on each side, so that the side supports a can be turned upon them. The side supports can therefore be laid down upon the brace and parallel to it. Another brace g is pivotally attached to the upper ends of the side supports a. This brace most practically consists of a number of single parts connected by means of joints in such a way that they close up when the side supports are put together, as shown in Fig. 5. Further props It on hinges at the lower parts of the side supports are provided for,

which serve to strengthen the holder.

As the music-rack is intended to serve only as a help at given times and for the purpose mentioned, the fact that the contrivance can be shutup is of particular value, as the same occupies very little space when it has been taken from the instrument and closed. Also in the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the device can be shut up, for from the points where the side supports and horizontal braces are attached together the polygon, with its sides remaining parallel, can be shoved out of its square form until the horizontal braces c and g lie upon one another. As, however, both side supports lie in the same direction, the end of the upper horizontal brace stretches far beyond that of the lower. Thus the contrivance when shut up is considerably longer.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In connection with an upright keyed instrument, a music-rack having wedge-shaped side supports, hooks on the upper ends of the same, horizontal braces movably attached to said supports by means of screws, and props having hingesattached to the lower part of the side supports, all as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In-connection with an upright keyed instrument, a music-rack having wedge-shaped side supports, hooks at the upper end of the same, a horizontal brace above connecting both side supports and consisting of several parts forming joints, a lower connecting hori- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my zontal brace, screws attaching said lower hand in presence of two witnesses. brace to the side supports a music-holder hav- FRIEDRICH MULLER.

ing hinges fastened to said horizontal brace, 5 and props on hinges at the lower ends of the Witnesses:

side supports, all as described and for the pur- FRANK S. HOWARD,

pose set forth.

JAMEs L. A. BURRELL. 

